Animal Rahat provides lifelong care for hundreds of animals in India at its sanctuaries. Many residents were rescued or retired after years of being forced to haul heavy carts and perform exhausting labor. Meet some of the Animal Rahat family:
Vijay
Vijay hatched into chaos – one of 150 chicks nearly buried alive by a panicked farmer who feared they’d spread COVID-19. But this little firecracker and the others were rescued just in time by an animal liberation group and a quick-thinking official, and now Vijay rules the sanctuary roost. He’s a blur of feathers and confidence, sprinting to greet his devoted caretakers with a proud strut and a gleam in his eye when they arrive with treats. Vijay isn’t just surviving – he’s thriving, a friendly rooster who delights everyone he meets. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful January calendar photo of Vijay.
Kishan
Kishan was muscle and misery when Animal Rahat found him and Jay yoked to a sugarcane cart, one of them bleeding from the nose. The team struck a deal: the owner would get a secondhand tractor if he agreed to retire the bullocks. Diagnosed with foot-and-mouth disease, Kishan and Jay spent several weeks receiving expert veterinary care. But now? Kishan is a powerhouse of personality. Regal in stance, he surveys the sanctuary like a king – until the treat cart rolls in. Then he’s off like a shot, outpacing Jay to snag the best greens. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful February calendar photo of Kishan.
Bahadur
Bahadur’s name means “brave,” and it suits him perfectly. Rescued from the Karur Latha Circus, where a wooden peg pierced his septum and the circus smothered his spirit, he arrived at Animal Rahat’s sanctuary gaunt and guarded. But with expert care from Animal Rahat’s staff over time, his wounds healed – and so did his trust. Now, Bahadur is an extremely inquisitive camel who’s quick to greet a newcomer or poke his nose into a wheelbarrow. His stride is slow but sure, his eyes are sharp and watchful, and his true personality has emerged. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful March calendar photo of Bahadur.
Usha and Phoenix
Usha once hauled bricks under a blazing sun, her strength pushed to the limit. But when Animal Rahat’s mechanization program helped her owner switch to a motorized vehicle, Usha and seven other donkeys were finally retired. At the sanctuary, Usha gave birth to Phoenix – a wide-eyed foal with spring-loaded legs and a curious streak a mile long. Usha is an attentive, protective mother, sometimes resting her head gently on Phoenix’s back, as if anchoring her baby to the earth as the foal explores it, never encountering the hardships her mother once did. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful April photo calendar of Usha and Phoenix.
Sunny
Sunny was a scrap of fur and fire when Animal Rahat’s founder spotted her and her sibling, Hunny, huddled beside a busy road in Sangli. Scooped up and tucked into a jacket for warmth, the pups were clearly abandoned – but Sunny didn’t let that dim her spark. At the sanctuary, she bloomed into a whirlwind of energy and affection. She’s the first to greet visitors, tail wagging like a metronome, and the last to leave a game of chase. Whether she’s wrestling with her dog friends or charming the staff, Sunny lives like every day is her best one yet. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful May photo calendar of Sunny.
Bill
Nearly born into an illegal sand-mining operation, Bill escaped a life of backbreaking labor such as his mother, Radha, had endured. She was rescued while pregnant, along with 36 other donkeys, and her beloved Bill was born at Animal Rahat’s sanctuary. Bill has grown into a sturdy, self-assured donkey with a mischievous streak who loves to play with the other young donkeys, is the last to leave a good patch of grass, and is the undisputed champion of back-scratching rolls. Bill exudes the kind of joy that comes from never having suffered from a harsh strike or heavy load, living proof that a peaceful life can be inherited. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful June photo calendar of Bill.
Lalu
Lalu was barely standing when a contractor spotted him – sickly, anemic, and heartbreakingly small. He’d been torn away from his mother so that humans could take her milk, and now he was about to be sold for slaughter. Animal Rahat rushed to intervene, and Lalu was soon safe at the Sangli sanctuary. With proper food and care, he bounced back fast. These days, Lalu is a water buffalo of leisure. His favorite pastime? Wading into the sanctuary pond until only his nostrils peek above the surface. He floats as if he’s meditating, alongside his buffalo friends Mahesh, Kalu, Bablu, Bansi, and Draupadi. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful July photo calendar of Lalu.
Sheila
Sheila lay on the busy roadside for three days – feverish, dehydrated, and utterly alone – before someone finally called Animal Rahat, which sent a team to race to her side, administering IV fluids right there on the pavement. No one claimed her, so she was moved first to a cow shelter, then to the sanctuary in Sangli. That fragile calf is now a striking, self-assured cow who knows what she wants – and that’s usually an extra-long grooming session or another big handful of jaggery. She’s got a fondness for lounging in the sun like royalty. Sheila survived, yes – but more importantly, she’s now thriving. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful August photo calendar of Sheila.
Blackie and Tony
When Animal Rahat acquired land for a new sanctuary in Gundlupet, staff found a surprise waiting: a black dog, left behind like forgotten furniture. But Blackie wasn’t bitter – he greeted the team with a wagging tail and a wide grin. He quickly claimed the grounds as his own, patrolling the fields and snoozing in the shade. Then came Tony and Wendy, two rescued cats with big opinions and no fear who clicked with Blackie instantly. Now the trio is inseparable – stretching out in sunbeams and sharing snacks. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful September photo calendar of Blackie and Tony.
Kiran
For a decade, Kiran hauled heavy loads through the chaos of the Miraj market yard – his hooves slipping on hot tar, his neck aching from the yoke, his body wearing down. When Animal Rahat’s mechanization project offered to help his owner acquire a motorized vehicle, Kiran’s life changed completely. Now retired at the Sangli sanctuary, this 12-year-old bullock has traded concrete and isolation for soft earth and companionship. He’s partial to jaggery and spends his days with his best friends, Raju and Sonya, basking in the sun and savoring peace and tranquility. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful October photo calendar of Kiran.
Kali
Kali was limping along a dusty roadside when Animal Rahat’s team spotted her and a small flock of sheep, all hobbling in pain. The rescuers pulled over, hearts sinking at the sight – four adults and a lamb, all too weak to walk properly. The owner, desperate and destitute, agreed to let them go. At the sanctuary, Kali recovered slowly, her steps growing steadier with each passing day. She’s a gentle soul, often found sunbathing or nuzzling her closest companion. Although she rarely makes a fuss, Kali’s quiet presence is magnetic and strong, drawing others to her. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful November photo calendar of Kali.
Varun
Varun was galloping full speed through Mumbai’s Film City when disaster struck. Hitched to a carriage for a movie shoot, he and another horse crashed into a barrier. The other horse didn’t survive. Varun did – but just barely. After being surrendered by his owner, he arrived at Animal Rahat’s sanctuary battered but unbroken. With time and expert care, he healed – and then he ran. Now, Varun gallops not for cameras but for the sheer joy of it. He kicks up dust with his equine friends, rolls in the dirt like it’s a spa treatment, and runs only when the mood strikes. Open up your desktop, tablet, or phone and download a beautiful December photo calendar of Varun.